Baroque Journal: Dieterich Buxtehude – Praeludium in E Major

Dieterich Buxtehude – Praeludium in E Major

Studying Dieterich Buxtehude’s Praeludium in E Major was an interesting ordeal because of my lack of interest in the organ. Though hard to admit, there is something about the way it sounds that just irks and scares me. My lack of understanding of organ music and how the organ is played could be the reason for my fear.

In addition to being a popular composer of organ music, Dieterich Buxtehude (ca.1637-1707) was known for his virtuosic playing as an organist. As a child, Buxtehude grew up being surrounded by the organ, as his father was an accomplished organist, and it is thought that Dieterich was taught by him. Dieterich Buxtehude began playing organ in a local German church, before he was granted the organist position of the St. Mary’s church in 1657; the same position held by his father, which he held for thirty-five years. Buxtehude was known not only for his playing, but also for his virtuosic writings of both the hands and the pedals of the organ.

Buxtehude’s Praeludium in E Major is an organ prelude in the style of a toccata, which is a virtuosic display at the keyboard and the pedals. “Filled with motion and climaxes, the toccatas display a great variety of figuration and take full advantage of the organ’s idiomatic qualities.”[1] An example of the organ’s idiomatic qualities is the extensive pedal work. This toccata style presents a series of alternating free and fugal sections, which display diversity in the piece, but he creates a sense of continuity from one section to the next by unifying the piece by staying in the key of E major.

The free sections in the Praeludium in E Major replicate an improvisatory feel due to the repeated and spontaneous changes in the rhythm, melodic direction, harmony, phrasing, and texture. An example of this can be seen in measure fifty-one, by changing the melody from being in the hands to being isolated in the pedal part, which defies than the figured bass that is normally found in the pedals of his contemporaries. In this measure the pedal part is isolated with a virtuosic line including a long trill, but within the next measure, the pedal part sustains a tone, while both hands rupture with a rapid passage of unpredictable changes in speed and direction. Praeludium in E Major contains five of these free sections. Four fugal sections follow each of these sections, which are notated by a change in meter or tempo. The fugue subject, as seen in measure thirteen, is imitated in all four voices. Buxtehude typically puts the entrances beginning in the soprano line, followed by the alto and tenor lines, and ending with the bass line. These series of entrances are known as the exposition. The second entrance, or the answer, follows the exposition usually altered to fit the key. The four voices constantly alternate between the subject and the answer. If the subject begins on the tonic, the answer will always begin on the dominant and vice-versa.

After listening to Praeludium in E Major for the first time, I had my usual reaction to organ music. After researching more about Buxtehude and his virtuosic performances and written compositions, I slowly began to appreciate more of what the organ had to offer. The technical aspects of this piece are amazing, and are truly exemplified in the pedal work. I was completely oblivious to what organists are capable of. This piece has opened up my perspective and helped me to appreciate the complexities of organ music.

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[1] Donald Jay Grout, A History of Western Music (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006), 407.

Baroque Journal Response to Brett's St. Matthew's Passion

Listening Response to Brett’s St. Matthew's Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach

When thinking back to the Baroque period, the first name that many people associate with is Johann Sebastian Bach. He has been an influence to many of the composers we know today. St. Matthew’s Passions is one of Bach’s most famous compositions, and this inspiring piece continues to be known as one of the greatest sacred works of its time. After reading Brett Terry’s paper on the St. Matthew’s Passion, I wanted to continue to understand this monumental piece. Brett’s fluid writing and attention-grabbing facts that describes the works allow the listener a vivid picture of the composition.

Brett opens his paper by telling us the story behind the piece of how St. Matthew described the “gruesome story of the last days of the life of Christ.” Bach helps his listeners visualize the story of Christ told in the eyes of St. Matthew. Bach scored the composition for two orchestras, two organs, two choirs, and a few soloists. It would be a monumental feat to perform this work as it was originally scored. and because of this I would love to see a live performance of this. According to Brett, after Bach’s death, this piece was not performed “until Felix Mendelssohn mounted a well-received performance in Berlin.” Not knowing a lot about when Bach was rediscovered, I questioned if the Felix Mendelssohn performance was the sole reason Bach was founded as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque period. If this is true, I would love to read more about how Felix Mendelssohn brought the attention of many to that of the great Johann Sebastian Bach.

Further into Brett’s paper, he goes on to talk about the soloists and their individuality behind the arias they sang within the St. Matthew's Passion. Each soloist is portrayed throughout the piece according to what each soloist sings. Brett continues to discuss the interplay between the soloist and the instruments of the orchestra. Personally I would talk more about the harmonies used between the instruments and the voice parts that create the dramatic effects of the passion. Brett mentions how “Bach uses some dissonant chords at times to paint the text musically.” He makes a good transfer into his next paragraph to further discuss how Bach uses text painting to portray the words to his audience.

Great details continue to fill the paper, as Brett elaborates the text behind the St. Matthew's Passion. I enjoyed how Brett did not just focus his attention on the text of St. Matthew's Passion, but the chorus as well. Every section plays a significant role in the importance of this piece. Although Brett discusses how the chorus fits into the piece extremely well, it is important to discuss all sides of the piece. As an instrumentalist, I am always interested in the interaction of the orchestra with other sections of the piece.

St. Matthew's Passion is an enormous work of over two hours in length. Brett does an amazing job of capturing a brief overview of this entire work. Although, a two-page overview does not do this incredible work justice, I was very impressed with Brett’s words to describe this fabulous piece. He continues to spark my interest in Bach’s St. Matthew's Passion. Before reading Brett’s review I thought this piece was incredible. After reading Brett’s words, I wanted to learn more about the piece and its interaction of text and music. This phenomenal piece will continue to inspire the composers of the future, and with the help of people like Brett Terry, many others will understand the importance of Bach’s St. Matthew's Passion.